A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, #1)
Holly Jackson
For readers of Kara Thomas and Karen McManus, an addictive, twisty crime thriller with shades of Serial and Making a Murderer about a closed local murder case that doesn't add up, and a girl who's determined to find the real killer--but not everyone wants her meddling in the past. Everyone in Fairview knows the story. Pretty and popular high school senior Andie Bell was murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who then killed himself. It was all anyone could talk about. And five years later, Pip sees how the tragedy still haunts her town. But she can't shake the feeling that there was more to what happened that day. She knew Sal when she was a child, and he was always so kind to her. How could he possibly have been a killer? Now a senior herself, Pip decides to reexamine the closed case for her final project, at first just to cast doubt on the original investigation. But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets that might actually prove Sal innocent . . . and the line between past and present begins to blur. Someone in Fairview doesn't want Pip digging around for answers, and now her own life might be in danger. This is the story of an investigation turned obsession, full of twists and turns and with an ending you'll never expect.
It's been a couple years since I read this, but I saw that there's a new Netflix show? I feel like there's not a lot of true crime-inspired YA mashups, so I'm very curious. Has anyone watched it yet?
3Your rating:
0- a major strength of this book is the pace and the logic: each step reveals leads that go to the next person, and the reader is pulled along easily
- Pippa is very privileged, she is also ridiculously lucky / it is unrealistic to have everything play out so neatly, but that was okay
-I had to keep remembering that this is a young adult book and Pippa is in high school
- I liked the mixed media elements, I liked Pippa's list of suspects and her thought process
- I thought killing the dog was a bit much, but it did increase the tension
- overall the book was very well done, it did not shy from the hard topics: sex, drugs, rape, Etc
- I thought the ending was unsatisfying? did not want it to be the teacher, and the whole ‘keeping “Andie” hostage for years’ was weird - got quite dramatic at the end, especially with Pip out running there to see everything for herself
- also even more stupid/ dramatic to confront the sister and almost get killed!
- the ending speech was a bit preachy, and chastising the local people?
- One reviewer points out that how people reveal secrets to Pippa is nonsensical, and I agree
- also yes, Pippa is being illegal/immoral to move the project forward
- the murderer confessed in a long monologue like a villain
- people point out that Pippa has no character growth or change, and I see that
0This is an absolutely fantastic book.
For anyone interested in crime fiction, this young adult re-invention of the traditional and typical crime novel is an addictive deep dive into the desperation and downfalls of humanity; and how, despite all this: there is still a Sal Singh, Ravi or a Victor throughout it all. A light that shines in the darkness, even if sometimes it is snuffed too soon. And don’t forget Pippa’s message either, as she becomes a spear head for all the ball-busting individuals who won’t stand down from a challenge and won’t let injustice become the standard for humanity as it is and once was.
This book shines a new light on what crime fiction can be, bringing together new mediums of reports and pictures, maps and diary entries to create a fulfilling and well rounded world. You feel as if you are a detective in the case, sorting the clues and realising the connections alongside the resident Sarge. More than that, this book is just extremely clever, there are so many twists and turns, so many unexpected secrets and the connections are baffling. There is no shortage of interesting and unexpected findings that leave you just stunned at Holly Jackson’s ability to create such a well thought out case and world, you feel immersed in Little Kilton and it’s secrets.
Everything is mapped out, from a phone clock to a report for a car crash, nothing is forgotten and nothing is amiss. Every detail is connected in some way or another; which aids in creating this highly immersive world and complex characters that do not feel half written. Rather, every suspect feels like someone you have known for as long as Pippa has, faces you might recognise around the school, or even if she never has seen them- they feel like a well rounded character, with motivation, truths that rattle perceptions and assumptions that prove true or false (with most of them being proven false- as humanity is more complicated than a biased news report).
I could not recommend this book more highly.
Even if you don’t enjoy crime fiction, I think this book could certainly change that opinion. I have read the series and have re-read it again time and time again and I still have things that I didn’t remember occurring and hints that are revealed and things I now know connect to following novels, it is a book you simply can’t put down.
I can’t wait to keep reading on with the series and want to commend Holly for her fantastic characters and for her commentary on topics that are usually glazed over, with her representation of sexual assault, racism and general prejudice, this book is also an exemplar for how all novels should be written, with tact, heart and truth.
There is something we could all learn from Pippa’s adventure, that life is more complicated than it seems, with good and bad blurring, that we must be cautious of how the media plays into our lives and most importantly, that justice is always a cause we must fight for.
So, as I read this again, I implore people to do the same.
You simply won’t regret it.
0
